Reflector for hydrocarbon burning lamps



Nov. 17, 1970 E. F. DURR REFLECTOR FOR HYDROCARBON BURNING LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet I Filed Aug. 19, 1968 United States Patent 01 hoe 3,541,326 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,541,326 REFLECTOR FOR HYDROCARBON BURNING LAMPS Earl F. Durr, Nashville, Tenn., assignor to Aladdin Industries, Incorporated, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 753,432 Int. Cl. F21v 7/04 US. Cl. 240-103 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reflector for a hydrocarbon burning lamp of the type having a chimney surrounding a burner. The reflector comprises a sheet metal member having a reflecting surface with a second section of the sheet metal member being formed into a mounting ring. The mounting ring is split and is provided with flanges for holding an adjusting screw. A central connecting portion is provided in the metal sheet between the mounting ring and the reflector member. The reflector member is bent so that its axis of curvature extends at an angle relative to the axis of the mounting ring.

This invention relates to a hydrocarbon burning lamp and pertains to a new and improved reflector for increasing the efliciency of such lamps.

The reflector is especially adaptable for use on a lamp of the type comprising a burner with a mantle mounted thereon, a chimney disposed around said mantle, and mounted on said burner, and a shade mounted around said chimney.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved reflector which may be mounted on such a lamp, without modifying the lamp, so as to direct and concentrate the illumination from the lamp with greatly improved efliciency. With the reflector of the present inventor, the lamp is capable of delivering a greatly in creased amount of illumination to the desired work area.

In accordance with the present invention, the reflector preferably comprises a curved reflecting member, together with mounting means for mounting the reflecting member on the chimney of the lamp. The reflecting member is preferably given a cylindrical curvature. It is preferred that the reflecting member be made of sheet metal with a reflecting surface. The mounting means for the reflecting member is preferably formed integrally therewith, and may take the form of a mounting ring. It is preferred to split the mounting ring and to form the end portions with flanges having openings therein, adapted to receive an adjusting screw. Thus, the screw may be employed to change the size of the mounting ring so that it will fit properly on the chimney. The reflecting member is bent rearwardly so that its axis of curvature is at an angle relative to the axis of the mounting ring. In this way, the light will be directed downwardly and forwardly at an inclined angle by the reflecting member.

Further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will appear from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view, partly in section, to show a hydrocarbon burning lamp equipped with a reflector, constituting an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the lamp with a portion of the shade broken away to show the reflector to better advantage.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the reflector.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the reflector.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the reflector.

It will be seen that the drawings illustrate a hydrocarbon burning lamp 1, which happens to be of the liquid fuel type, but may also be of the gaseous fuel type. The illustrated lamp 1 comprises a burner 2, which is mounted on a fuel fount 3, serving as the base for the lamp. The burner 2 is of the type utilizing a mantle 4. Thus, the burner 2 produces a blue flame which heats the mantle 4 to incandescence. Accordingly, the lamp 1 is capable of producing.a brilliant, white light.

The burner 2 is fitted with a transparent chimney 5 which surrounds the mantle 4. The chimeney 5 produces a draft so that an abundant supply of air is fed to ,the flame within the mantle 4.

The chimney 5 is of the usual construction having a lower, generally cylindrical portion 6, adapted to fit into a holder 7 on the burner 2. Above the lower portion 6, the chimney 5 is enlarged to provide a globular portion 8 around the mantle 4. The chimney 5 tapers to a narrow neck portion 9, above the globular portion 8.

As shown, the lamp 1 is fitted with a shade 10, which is mounted around the chimney 5 and is spaced outwardly therefrom. The shade 10 is of the usual upwardly tapering, frusto-conical shape. A plurality of supports 11 are mounted on the burner 2 to receive the circular lower edge portion of the shade 10. The shade 10 may be either translucent or opaque, or it may have a translucent portion and an opaque portion for the convenience of the person using the lamp.

In accordance with the present invention, the lamp 1 is provided with a reflector 12 adapted to direct and concentrate the light in a forward direction from the lamp so that the useful illumination will be greatly increased upon the work area.

A typical installation of the lamp is shown in FIG. 1. It will be seen that the lamp 1 is mounted above the rear portion of a desk or table 13. In this case, the lamp is mounted on a wall 14 behind the desk 13. A special mounting bracket 15 is employed to mount lamp 1 on the wall 14. The bracket 15 fits around the fount 3 and has a shock isolating base portion 16, which is secured to wall 14. Thus, the bracket 15 minimizes the transmission of shocks and vibrations from the wall 14 to the the useful work area toward the front portion of the desk 13. FIG. 1 ilustrates a light meter 17 which is positioned to measure the useful ilumination from the lamp 1.

The illustrated reflector 12 comprises a curved reflector member 18 which is preferably of a generally cylindrical shape. Alternatively, the reflector member 18 may be of a parabolic shape. The reflector 12 is preferably made of aluminum or other similar sheet metal, so that the reflector member 18 will have a highly reflective surface. To difluse the light, the reflector member 18 is preferably formed with a large number of dimples, or other irregularities 19, over its entire surface.

Means are preferably provided to mount the reflector member 18 on the chimney 5, so that the reflector member will be behind the mantle 4. As shown, a mounting ring 20 is formed integrally with the upper portion of the reflector member 18. The mounting ring 20 is adapted to fit around the chimney 5 and to be restrained against downward movement against the enlarged globular portion 8 of the chimney 5.

As shown, the mounting ring 20 is split to provide for adjustment of the ring. Thus, the end, portions of the 0 split ring 20 are in the form of a forwardly projecting The metal ring 20'may be mounted directly on the chimney 5, if desired. However, it is preferred to provide a plurality of pads 24 around the ring 20 to obviate any possibility that the ring will scratch or otherwise damage the chimney 5. Due to the intense heat to which the chimney is subject, any slight scratch of the chimney may possibly result in breakage of the chimney. The pads 24 are preferably of a heat resisting material, such as asbestos, and are secured to the ring 20 by means of a suitable adhesive.

As shown, the ring 20 has an upwardly tapering contour so that it will fit snugly around the upwardly tapering portion of the chimney 5. The reflector member 18 is bent outwardly at an inclined angle from the lower portion of the ring 20. Thus, the axis of curvature of the reflectormember 18 is at an inclined angle relative to the vertical axis of the mounting ring 20. 'In this way, the reflector member 18 directs the light downwardly and forwardly at an inclined angle. It is an easy matter to bend the reflector member 18 so as to vary the angle of inclination to suit various installations. Typically, the reflector member 18 is inclined to the vertical at an angle of about 30 to 45 degrees.

The reflector 12 may be mounted on the lamp 1 without modifying the lamp in any way. Thus, the mounting ring 20 may simply be slipped over the upper end of the chimney 5. If necessary, the screw 22 may be employed to adjust the size of the mounting ring 20, to fit the chimney 5.

Initially, the reflector 12 may be made with the reflector member 18 at some convenient angle, such as 30 degrees to the vertical. However, to suit the needs of various installations, the reflector member 18 may be bent to a different angle relative to the mounting ring 20 so as to direct the light in the most eflEicient manner upon the work area. 1

The reflector is easy to manufacture and low in cost. It may be supplied as an attachment for use on existing lamps of the hydrocarbon fuel burning type.

Various other modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as described by way of example above, and as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a chimney-type hydrocarbon burning lamp wherein the chimney of the lamp has an enlarged globular central portion and a narrower upper neck portion, the improvement comprising a reflector for said lamp, said reflector being formed from a metal sheet and including a first section of the sheet comprising a reflector member defining a curved reflecting surface, a second section of the sheet forming a ring, the opening defined by said ring being adjustable to provide an inner diameter for the ring between the outer diameter of the upper chimney portion and the outer diameter of the central chimney portion whereby the reflector member can be held by means of said ring at an intermediate level of the chimney, heat resistant pads located on the inside surface of the ring for holding the ring out of engagement with the surface of the chimney, said reflector member including wings extending substantially beyond said chimney on both sides thereof when the reflector member is in place on the chimney, and including a connecting section of said sheet between said first and second sections, said connecting section comprising a short, narrow portion of the sheet, and wherein the sheet is adapted to be bent in the area of said connecting section for changing the angular relationship between said first and second sections,

a the angular relationship being such .that said reflector member is inclined outwardly and downwardly relative to the axis of said ring and is held in spaced-apart relationship relative to said chimney.

2. A reflector according to claim 1 in which said reflector member has a generally cylindrical curvature, the

axis of curvature of said reflector member being angled relative to the axis of said ring.

3. A reflector according to claim 1, in which said ring is split and is formed with end portions extending outwardly as flanges, said ring being provided with adjustable means extending between said flanges for changing the size 0 said ring. 4. A reflector according to claim 3 in which said adjustable means takes the form of an adjusting screw.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner K. C. HUTCHISON, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

